[The action of the artichoke (Cynara scolymus) on the male gonads in an experiment].

The gonadotropic effect of the Bulgarian preparation artichoke, developed on the basis of Cynara scolymus is studied. The preparation is used under the form of 50% aque emulsion, stabilized by emulgent Twin-80, in doses 35.70 and 150 mg/kg-1, 5 times weekly for 75 days. The evaluation is made on sexually mature white male rats Wistar, distributed into groups of 10. The results are compared with a control group. A complex of functional, quantitative morphological, classic histological tests are used, in compliance with the Bulgarian State Standards 15378-81. An electron microscopic study is performed. The 75-day introduction of artichoke [Cynara scolymus] in doses 35.70 and 150 mg/kg-1 leads to no significant changes in the structure of the semen of white rats, established on cellular and subcellular level. The single deviations in the function of the spermatozoid and the morphology of the spermatogenic epithelium give no grounds for conclusion concerning an injury or stimulating effect of the preparation in the conditions of the experiment.